If Marco Rubio decides to run for a second term in the Senate, he would start with some major support, a new poll shows.
Mason Dixon released a poll on Monday showing 49 percent of Florida voters favor Rubio running for a second term while 39 percent are against the idea. Rubio had said he would not run for the Senate again during his bid for the Republican presidential nomination but GOP leaders in Washington and the party’s presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump have urged he try for a second term, insisting he’s the best chance of ensuring the seat isn’t flipped by the Democrats.
Despite Trump routing him in the Florida primary back in March, Rubio has the support of Florida Republicans. More than three quarters of Florida Republicans--77 percent--want Rubio to run for reelection while only 16 percent think he should stay out of the Senate race. A majority of Democrats--62 percent--think Rubio should not run again but a quarter of them--25 percent--think he should seek reelection. Independents lean towards Rubio running for a second term with 48 percent saying he should run again while 37 percent are against the idea.
While Rubio has downplayed the possibility, buzz continues to grow that he could run for another term. There are currently five candidates trying for the Republican nomination: Congressmen Ron DeSantis and David Jolly, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera and businessmen Todd Wilcox and Carlos Beruff. Jolly has said he won’t run for the Senate if Rubio enters the race while Lopez-Cantera is expected to drop out of the race if that happens. Beruff and Wilcox have been adamant that they will not drop out of the Senate race even if Rubio runs again.
The poll of 625 registered Florida voters was taken between May 31 through June 2 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.
